A long time comin'...

Yes, the pro-photographer wanna-be finally got some family shots done.  These were taken by the great Teri Cepica.  Thanks again Teri, you did a FABulous job!  She was the artist behind the camera on these and I did the post-processing.  :)  I think they are the best I've seen yet.  But of course, they're my kids.  :)

Poor Daddy.  He is in many of these pictures but since he's an undercover CIA agent, his identity cannot be revealed.  Oh wait...  ;)  

The Reagan Obsession.

Anna has LOVED Reagan for as long as I can remember.  Reagan is always a topic of conversation around here.  She will pop in and out of random sentences now and then.  Lately, Anna has been waking up in the middle of the night crying and wanting her "best friend Reagan."  As always my response is either, "She's at school.", "She's at home with Jon, Lee, Reese, and Sage.", or "She is her OWN bed ASLEEP like you should be."  But who couldn't love that face?

Leftover makeup acceptable.

I washed my face last night for the first time since Friday!  Take THAT Erin.  HA!

Gamer.

Anna got a new Leap Frog "super computer" game system for her birthday.  She has been wanting to play it so bad.  I thought that you needed a game cartridge to be able to play, so we ventured to Target to check out the selection.  To my surprise, Anna chose the Disney Princess game.  You may ask why I was surprised...there was also a Dora the Explorer and a Go Diego Go game next to the Disney game.  She almost always goes for the Dora or Diego stuff.  Gag.  So I was armed with a strategy for trying to talk her out of those before even getting to the store.  I was glad she chose the princesses.  I get enough of those other two shows everyday (she just watches one of each in the mornings)...but they talk SO loud!  Also to my surprise, you don't need a game cartridge with the system.  It comes with a few little built in games.

Anyway, last night Anna was busy dressing the virtual Cinderella and I, of course, was at the computer working.  I heard Anna say, "Mommy, can you come help me?"  She's been saying that many times since she'd just learned how to use the mouse and keyboard, so I thought she was just having trouble figuring something out.  I went into the living room and saw her having no trouble with a nice "video game gaze" on her face looking at the tv.  I asked, "You look like you're doing fine.  Why did you need me?"  She replied still staring at the 'beautiful dress' she was making, "Can you take off my shoes?"  She, sitting comfortably in her chair, couldn't bother to reach down and pull her shoes off because she might mess something up on her game.  Hmm, I see 'limits' on this game already.

Take a hike, Puppy.

Anna has had her beloved "Puppy" since she wanted something to hold.  She would carry him around everywhere.  Some of you can remember...   She has had a baby for a while, maybe as long as she has had the puppy, but the baby has never been wanted.  The original puppy had been replaced by a newer, more "fuzzy" puppy.  One where Anna could twirl it's fur between her fingers when she was going to sleep.  Now that newer puppy has been pushed aside.  I guess he's not fussy enough anymore.  This "new" (it's really not that new) baby has become the favorite.  She used to have clothes and a diaper, but they have been lost...long ago.  We bought her new clothes and put one of Grey's tiny diapers on her.  She goes everywhere with Anna.  Even to Target this morning.  She must be wrapped up (swaddle style) before bedtime and sometimes I even have to come check her diaper to make sure it's "ok" before she goes to sleep.  That poor puppy is always either hanging off a shelf in her closet or under her bed.  I feel sorry for him.   

www.yearbookyourself.com

This is hilarious!  Go to this site and make a "vintage" yearbook photo of yourself.  I saw this on Fred Egan's blog and then on Carla's.  And with the peer pressure looming in the air, I had to jump on the bandwagon as well.  ;)  The very first picture (1956) looks a little too much like my sister...just because of the dark hair, she doesn't have that hairstyle.

1956+1958

1960+1966

1976+1978

1980+1984

1996+1996

No sticker. No sucker.

I asked Anna why she didn't get a sticker and a sucker at school today so Daddy could hear it straight from her.  She searched the ceiling for the answer...then began with this:

Anna: Um, I got up from my nap mat.

Me: I know, but what did you do after you got up?  Did you climb on something?

Anna: Yeah, I climbed on Allyssa.

Me:  ??  You climbed on Allyssa?

Anna: Yeah.  

Me: I thought you climbed on the table?

Anna: Me and Allyssa climbed on the table...and I fell off and hurt my neck.

Me/Daddy: So you got in trouble when you got up from your nap mat AND you caused someone else to not get a sticker and a sucker too?! (and risked both of your LIVES?!)

Anna: ..yeah....(hanging her head and sticking her lips out).

The sticker and sucker are their rewards for staying on their mat at nap/rest time.  They don't have to sleep, just stay put.  She has been getting up from her nap mat off and on since she started school.  Somehow I think the slyness and excitement of getting up when the teachers aren't there and coaxing a partner in crime is way more rewarding than something that will get lost within 10 minutes and a sugar high.

Traffic lesson #2.

Today as we were driving home for "school", I came to a red light.  I was in the turning lane and the turning lane light, which is an arrow light, was red.  The light for those going straight was green.  

Anna: Mommy, go ahead! Go ahead 'cause your light's green!

Me: Anna, the light in front of me is a red arrow.  I can't go because I'm turning and it's not my turn to go.

Anna: No, see the light?  It's green.

(the arrow for me turns green)

Me: Ok, now I can go because my arrow is green.  (turn left and pass underneath the red light for the people to my right.)

Anna: NO MOMMY!  We-member how you posta stop at da red light?  You didn't!  You NOT posta go under it, you posta stop!

Me: No, that light wasn't for me, it was for the other people beside us.

Anna:  You we-member Mommy?  You didn't.  Where we going?

Me: Home.

Anna: Ok, you go ahead...go ahead and no stop at the red light...  are we going to da store?  

Me: No, we're going home.

Anna: Ok...you need ta we-member ta stop at da red light next time...you go ahead and turn by da store and go home now.

McScreamy.

Grey has become even more of a "screamer."  It's not the crying type of screaming either.  He's already master that one.  He is to the age where he thinks that if he screams at the top of his lungs, he'll get what he wants...more Cheerios, more food, his bed, attention from anyone, etc.  He's in there right now screaming away.  Anna tends to cover her ears when he starts this and complains that she can't hear her shows in the mornings.  Sorry girl, those boys just have to complain sometimes.  I'm trying to break him of it, but it's a long, slow, ear-piercing journey.

The rain...again.

It has rained two out of three of Anna's birthdays.  It rained off and on today...and when it wasn't really considered as rain, it was misting.  So you'd be wet either way.  Anna felt a little tortured today as she sat eating lunch while looking out the kitchen window at the wet trampoline.  She wanted to jump SO bad.  I would have let her, but Daddy was going to take her to a soccer game (in the rain) this afternoon.  She thought that would be a pretty good consolation prize, and when she got back, was pretty tired and took a nice rainy day nap.  She had fun at the soccer game.  They got very wet, but Anna was well equipped (unlike at the cousins' soccer game on Saturday morning...my fault).  She wore her new rain coat and took her Sleeping Beauty umbrella.  She was set.  Maybe the rain will let up a little tomorrow, but the forecast is looking grim.  She'll end up jumping if it's wet or dry.  It's only water.  :)